The Journey of Ocean Eight

Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula has become one of most the most sought after regions in Australia for the production of high quality Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.

The improvement in quality of wine made on the Mornington Peninsula is directly related to the progressive knowledge of the climate and soil types of this region, and the ever improving methods of managing the fruit production and vineyard management.

Ocean Eight

Ocean Eight is owned by the Aylward family. The winery is located on Tucks Road in Shoreham. All grapes picked for this small production come from the 17 Hectares of vineyard owned by the Aylwards.

Background

Chris and Gail Aylward started producing wine on the Peninsula in 1997 when they established Kooyong. The focus was top quality wine that suited the climate of the Mornington Peninsula. Quality was maintained by controlling all aspects of production including vineyard management, winemaking and bottling.

Kooyong was sold in 2004 to the owners of Port Phillip Estate.

In this same year the Aylwards started Ocean Eight. This time small vineyards were carefully selected for their potential for fantastic Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris fruit. The winery for Ocean Eight was built into the hillside at the family’s property in Shoreham. This enabled a temperature controlled, gravity fed winery that would help enhance the quality of all wine made on site.

While waiting for the first vintage, winemaker Mike Aylward travelled through Burgundy, Alsace and Champagne to determine the styles and methods of wines to make. Visiting many of the top French winemakers highlighted two things. Meticulous care in grape-growing is the key to quality; while simple winemaking practices usually produce the greatest wines.

Mike has a passion for Burgundian Pinot Noir and Chardonnay but believes the Mornington Peninsula is developing its own fantastic styles. These will one day be as highly sought after as their French counterparts.

Luke O'Connor joined Ocean Eight in the first year as viticulturist. With such a strong emphasis on vineyard management and quality fruit production, Luke was the perfect man for the job.

All Ocean Eight’s wines are made in small quantities/batches to ensure high quality and a focused style of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris can be achieved.

In the future Ocean Eight will also release a sparkling wine truly inspired by (Champagne) in France. This will be aged for 5 years on lees before it is hand dis-gorged and corked.